The origin and customs of Christmas
The origin and customs of Christmas
The name "Christmas" is the abbreviation of "Christ's Mass". The Mass is a liturgy of the Church. Christmas is a religious holiday. People celebrate it as the birthday of Jesus, so it is also called Christmas.
On December 25th, whether it is Sunday or not, all Christian churches in the world hold special worship services. But there are many Christmas celebrations that have nothing to do with religion. Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards make Christmas a day of universal celebration. Catholics and Orthodox Christians hold Christmas Masses, while Protestants hold Christmas services. Some church celebrations start at midnight. In addition to the worship ceremony, Christmas plays are also performed, and the story of the birth of Jesus is performed.
It is said that the Christmas tree first appeared on the Saturnalia in mid-December in ancient Rome. The German missionary Nicholas used a vertical tree to worship the Holy Child in the 8th century AD. Later, the Germans regarded December 24 as the festival of Adam and Eve. They placed a "Paradise Tree" symbolizing the Garden of Eden in their homes, hung cookies representing holy bread, symbolizing atonement, and lit candles to symbolize Christ. By the 16th century, the religious reformer Martin Luther, in order to have a starry Christmas night, designed a Christmas tree with candles in his home.
The world’s first Christmas card was proposed by the British Sir Henry Gaule in 1843 and designed by John Calgary. The card depicts an aristocratic family, with three generations toasting together to congratulate an absent relative or friend. At that time, he printed 1,000 sheets, and the printer sold the remaining ones at 1 shilling each. And so the Christmas card was born.
The repertoire of Christmas songs continues to expand. The one we are most familiar with is 'Jingle Bell'. Others that are popular in European and American countries include: Adeste Fidelis, Angles We Have Heard On High, Angels Watching Over Me, A Child Is Born, Silent Night…. Music superstars such as A1, Destiny's Child, Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross, and Gloria Estefan who are active in today's music scene have also contributed, and many new Christmas songs have been released. (Christmas song link:
Santa Claus originally refers to Nicholas, the bishop of Asia Minor in the 4th century AD. He was famous for his amiable and generous charity. In the 6th century, the East revered him as Saint Nicholas. Since folk legends about Nicholas are associated with children and gifts, Santa Claus has become an image of a kind old man who specializes in delivering gifts to children at Christmas. By the 18th century, through literature and painting, Santa Claus became popular. Gradually it became the image of an old man with a white beard and white eyebrows wearing a red coat.
According to the Bible, saints from the East gave gifts when Jesus was born. This is the custom of Santa Claus giving gifts to children. Origin. British children put stockings by the fireplace on Christmas Eve, believing that Santa Claus will come down the chimney at night and bring them socks full of gifts. French children put their shoes at the door to wait for the Holy Child to come. Put gifts inside shoes.
Just like Chinese people eat New Year’s Eve dinner during the Spring Festival, Europeans and Americans also pay attention to family reunions during Christmas, sitting around under the Christmas tree and having a festive Christmas meal. The custom of eating turkey began in 1620. The roasting process is complicated and the taste is so delicious that McDull's children are salivating. This custom is popular in the United States. The British Christmas dinner is roast goose, not turkey. Austrians love to have a Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. The whole family gathers with relatives and friends in groups to have a Christmas dinner. Among them, turkey, bacon, roasted beef and pork legs are essential, and accompanied by With famous wine, everyone enjoyed the meal